Internet Census may suit 20pc of people

Up to 20 per cent of people are expected to use the internet to complete the March 7 Census.

Census general manager Nancy McBeth told guests at a launch function yesterday that New Zealand was one of the first countries in the OECD to allow people to fill in Census forms by computer.

The move online was to "meet the needs of a new generation of New Zealanders", and she expected 15 to 20 per cent of people to take advantage of it.

In general, people familiar with internet transactions would handle the online form with ease.

The system has been designed to work with low-speed computers and internet connections, but users would need a computer with an up-to-date operating system, a firewall, and virus and anti-spyware programmes.

Those who chose to fill in their Census online, either in English or Maori, will still need a paper from a collector as each one bears an internet identification code, said Andrew Adams, Census IT programme manager.

Collectors would give out an additional household security code.

The Herald test-ran the online Census and found it easy to follow.

Statistics NZ says internal and public tests show it will take about 10 minutes to fill in the individual online form and another 10 for the dwelling form. A television campaign promoting the Census starts today and features people explaining how their lives benefit from Census data.

Actors are not used and among those who appear are a builder with a partner and newborn baby, two 20-something nurses, a beekeeper and a kohanga reo teacher.

Statistics Minister Clayton Cosgrove said that a growing nation needed solid facts about its people so it could plan accurately.

"The reality is that every major decision made in New Zealand is based on statistics.

"Every major infrastructure, business and community decision has some connection back to the Census and social statistics."

To ensure the widest reach, Census information will be available in 20 languages, a telephone helpline in eight, and liaison officers will work with Maori and Pacific Island groups and young people, communities which could be harder to reach.

All the information on Census forms is protected by the Statistics Act 1975 and is kept confidential. 

 
Census timetable

* February 20: Collectors start dropping off Census forms, available in English and Maori, to every dwelling, one for each occupant and one for the dwelling. Tell the collector if you want to do the Census online and a household identification number can be issued.

* March 7: Forms must be filled out either by hand or online.

* March 8: Collectors start returning for completed forms.